Five Old Timers honored in memorial at Texas Cowboy Reunion in Stamford

Eric J. Shelton/Reporter-News
Alvin Sconce (left) prays during the Texas Cowboy Reunion’s Old Timers’ memorial service at the Bunkhouse on the Stamford rodeo grounds Friday. During the service, family members spoke in remembrance of their loved ones. Five Old Timers were honored.

Eric J. Shelton/Reporter-News
Jesse Morton, pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Stamford, delivers a brief sermon during the Texas Cowboy Reunion’s Old Timers’ memorial service at the Bunkhouse on the Stamford rodeo grounds Friday.

Eric J. Shelton/Reporter-News
Rosie O’Toole sings “Just a Few More Steps” during the Texas Cowboy Reunion’s Old Timers’ memorial service at the Bunkhouse on the Stamford rodeo grounds Friday. Five Old Timers were honored. A gospel singing event followed the service.

8 a.m.: Old Time Cowboys Calf Roping and Breakaway Roping Eliminations in Main Arena

STAMFORD — The 83rd Texas Cowboy Reunion at the rodeo grounds slowed down Friday morning for a somber, thoughtful moment to remember Old Timers who died recently.

Before a small group of their family, friends and fellow cowboys, John Rike, the reunion’s memorial chairman, read pieces of their obituaries and asked if loved ones would like to add words of remembrance. Some were spoken of as gone too soon; some were remembered for their long, happy lives.

Gary Wimberly, of Stamford, died April 14 at 52. He’d been diagnosed with lymphoma at 18, but fought it for more than 30 years before the cancer spread to his lungs. His sister, Cynthia Wimberly, said she always thought of her little brother as a cowboy.

“If anybody was born a cowboy, Gary was born a cowboy,” she said. “He always had his cowboy hat and boots on.”

She also talked about his talent playing guitars, his deep faith in God and, most of all, how courageous he was.

“As he fought cancer, he was a role model for all of us,” Cynthia Wimberly said

Gary Wimberly’s mother, Carolyn Sconce, said she was glad he got to see his 16-year-old son, Bo, win a state championship in football with Stamford High School last fall before he died.

“He was so proud of him,” she said.

Also remembered was N.L. “Boss” Winter Sr., of Aspermont, who died last July at 107. Winter, a lifelong resident of Stonewall County, was described by friends and family members as a “cowboy’s cowboy,” and they recalled stories of how well Winter cared for his horses.

Winter is survived by his wife, two daughters, five grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 26 great great grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandchild. His one son, N.L. “Wad” Winter Jr., preceded him in death.

Also honored at the memorial was Tommy Hammer, who died Dec. 30 at 76. Hammer, who served in the National Guard for 20 years, was a life-long Stamford resident and a big fan of teams from where he graduated, the Stamford High Bulldogs and Texas Christian University Horned Frogs.

Delores Stephens, of Colleyville, was regarded as a member who “treasured” being at the TCR rodeo. She died March 3 at 78. As a child, her family moved to Anson, where she graduated from Anson High School in 1953. A year later, she married Clyde Stephens, who was from Stamford and survived her.

One other Old Timer, who died March 16, 2010, was included in the memorial by the TCR for the first time. Ned Ward, who was 77, attended Aspermont High School and Texas Tech University, and made a career of working for many electric co-ops. Ward’s family and friends remembered him as a true outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting and roping.